NO JOKE: MySpace's latest redesign is actually drawing some positive attention to the long-ridiculed site.
Relevant offers
Digital Living
It's time to dust off that old MySpace page you had back in 2007 - if you can still remember the password, and you still have that old email address - Myspace is back with a new design and plans to relaunch (and with one less capital letter in its name).
The new site has a preview video up at new.myspace.com, featuring Justin Timberlake and showing off the range of new features and highly visual new design. If you have an existing Myspace account, you can still log into the existing site.
To register with the new site, enter your email at the preview page for the new Myspace.
Back in 2005, MySpace was the hottest social networking property on the internet, garnering well over 100 million users and launching artists such as Lily Allen and Sean Kingston. Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation bought the site in 2005 for $580 million - a testament to its importance at the time.
Then, mid-2008, a little upstart site named Facebook soared past MySpace in popularity. Ever since, MySpace has shed users, and been unable to gain ground. In fact, things got bad enough that News Corp couldn't initially find a buyer when they offered it for sale at a reserve price of $100 million in early 2011. It was sold to a little company called Specific Media and Justin Timberlake in mid -2011 for an estimated $35 million.
From the promotional video, it appears that the new Myspace will be trying to cater to artists, performers and creators wanting to showcase their music, photographs, images, videos and other works. This would fill a niche that few other sites tackle well - Twitter is great for broadcasting information, but lacks permanency, while Facebook has difficulties managing the vast numbers of friends in a way that is beneficial to creators.
And while some naysayers are pooh-poohing the idea that Myspace can make a comeback, there's a whole audience of teenagers and twentysomethings who have never used Myspace but will be the prime audience for the site.
The design is clean, and you can log in with Facebook, Twitter or your email address.
The profile page shows off an almost Pinterest-like or Timeline-like design, with updates and photos.
Music "mixes" are a key component of the site, and music playback features on the navigation bar.
How your stream appears, with updates from your friend connections. Songs and videos in the stream are embedded and can be played within the interface.
Sponsored links
Comments
Drunk antics page 'just negative stereotyping'
Globally more mobiles than toothbrushes
Microsoft says it freed millions from botnet
With Samsung, Jay-Z continues to boom
New York's free phone-charging stations
Google challenges surveillance court
'Tweet' breaks rule when added to dictionary
Hacker tests limits of US cyber law
Push for smartphone app to track 111 calls
US and Russia sign cyber security pact
Big chill brings new flooding risk
UnitedFuture fails at re-registration
Serious assault hospitalises man
Kiwi dies of cold in Queensland
TVNZ part of deal for football rights
Death-row dogs in pound break-out
Charlie Sheen 'fires Selma Blair'
Microsoft says it freed millions from botnet
John Mayer teams up with Prancercise Lady
Goalkeeper plays on despite bullet in his head
Globally more mobiles than toothbrushes
Are you happy with the Facebook News Feed redesign?
